Survivor Story: Cathy Stavropoulos

I was 52 years old and I had not been feeling well for a while. I had stomach discomfort. However it was never very painful. I realized I was often tired.

In January 2003, when the third doctor I went to suspected colon cancer (although she did not tell me at that time) she scheduled me for a colonoscopy. I underwent the procedure and never left the hospital. My colon was more then 90% blocked. Two days after the colonoscopy I had my colon resected. I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to my liver. I was told that I had a 5% chance of survival beyond 5 years.

After I recovered from the surgery I underwent six months (12 infusions of chemo). At the time the chemo consisted of 5-FU, Leucovorin, and CPT-11 and I recieved an experimental vaccine ALVAC-CEAB/7.1 At the end of the chemo. I had a break for about nine months. But the cancer was growing again in my liver. I was evaluated for a liver resection. I underwent this surgery. But the surgeon found diseased lymph nodes and closed me up.

I underwent a second chemo. This time a new drug was being used for treatment. I was again infused 12 times over six months with Oxaliplatin, Bevacizumab, 5-FU and Leucovorin. When I was in the hospital for the liver resection a nurse practitioner who was taking care of me was training for the Chicago Marathon. I remember watching the marathon about a month later and I was inspired. I wanted to have control of my body again.

I told myself and my doctors that after the last chemo I wanted to train to run the Chicago Marathon. The doctors

discouraged me. They probably thought the chemo had gone to my brain. They said that that kind of training would be too hard on my immune system. My last chemo was in May 2005. I trained and in October 2005 I ran the Chicago Marathon. I have since run the Chicago Marathon in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. I ran the Boston Marathon in 2008 and 2009. I have run about 18 half marathons and too many 5K and 10 K races to remember.

I go regularly for blood work and CAT scans. I changed my eating habits and take lots of supplements. My tests keep coming up okay. My doctors are amazed and tell me that whatever I am doing just keep doing it. I love being physically active and in control of my body. You have to be your own advocate when you are so seriously ill. You must make a commitment to do whatever you can to beat the disease.

I would recommend to others, make sure you get more then one opinion. Get the best care you can. I recommend that you go to a hospital that is a teaching hospital and where there are many clinical trials. Look for a doctor who is open to thinking outside the box. Do not give up. You need to have a positive attitude. Doctors have to give you all the statistics and sometimes that is harsh. But you are not a statistic. Immediately change lifestyle habits that are not healthy. You need as strong a body as possible to fight this disease.

Never accept dying. I was inspired by Lance Armstrong’s book “It’s Not About the Bike”. I read it several times.